TYWLS at the Workplace: Music Management with Sony
The next big innovation in the entertainment industry might be coming from the students of The Young Women’s Leadership School (TYWLS) of Astoria! TYWLS tenth graders visited Sony’s headquarters in NYC to explore its technology, electronics, and music businesses, with a focus on careers in music production and management. As part of our TYWLS at the Workplace series, companies invite our public school students into their offices to gain insights into different roles and career paths within an organization. Onsite visits help broaden our students’ early career awareness and plant the seeds for future college and career goals.
Exploring Careers in Music
Behind every successful recording artist is a diverse team of producers, sound engineers, songwriters, marketers, lawyers, talent managers, and others who collaborate to bring music and art to the public. Yet gender disparities in this and many industries remain prevalent.
A 2023 study by the University of Southern California’s Annenberg Inclusion Initiative found that 35% of the year’s Billboard Hot 100 Year-End Charts were women artists, and 19.5% were women songwriters. Across nine years, the ratio of men to women working as a producer was 30:1. Initiatives like TYWLS at the Workplace give girls and gender-expansive youth an early start to discovering career possibilities and establishing their professional network.
It’s hard to know what’s for you without trying things out. Don’t be scared and remember it’s never too late to pivot.
Stephanie Caress, Director of A&R Research Analytics, Sony Music Entertainment
Meeting Icons of the Music Industry
Clive Davis, the Chief Creative Officer for Sony Music Entertainment and a renowned music producer, welcomed TYWLS students back for this annual event. He reflected on an illustrious career that initially started with using his law degree in the music industry. He later pivoted to music management and eventually became a top executive whose labels propelled the careers of artists including Whitney Houston, Santana, Billy Joel, and Earth, Wind and Fire. He encouraged our students to develop and leverage a strong work ethic, no matter what they’re working on or who they’re working for.
Current Sony employees also generously shared their time in a panel discussion about their interests and work experiences that led to their current roles. Stephanie Caress, Director of A&R Research and Analytics, changed paths from a music and communications background into data analytics within the industry. She shared, “It’s hard to know what’s for you without trying things out. So don’t be scared and remember it’s never too late to pivot.”
Students were eager to go behind the scenes at the renowned music company. A visit to the sound studio ignited excitement and a hands-on approach to sharing the day-to-day work of someone in the entertainment industry. Barry Weiss, Partner & Co-founder of RECORDS, a joint venture with Sony Music Entertainment, joined the students for a conversation about his passion for music and business. From starting off in college radio to a long career developing artists across rap, pop, and country music, he encouraged students to pair their passions with discipline and hard work.
We’ve been fortunate to host many TYWLS at the Workplace events over our 15-year partnership with Sony. Each visit creates opportunities for more students to explore potential careers and connect with industry professionals about the education and experience needed to reach their goals. Many thanks to everyone at Sony for their ongoing partnership!
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